# Arrest made in the Delphi murder case **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 31, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086 "2022-10-31T16:34:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/1 "2022-10-31T16:34:28Z")
I searched for an old thread from 2017. I’ve read this guy lives very close to the crime scene and police considered him a person of interest. I’m glad they finally have evidence to charge him. It has to be a parents worst nightmare. Parents dropped the kids off at a popular hiking trail. It was a short walk. They never came out the other side. > **[Delphi murders: Man arrested in 2017 killings of teens Liberty German and...](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/delphi-murders-richard-allen-arrested-2017-killings-teens-abigail-williams-liberty-german-indiana/#app)** > > Police have arrested one suspect on two counts of murder in connection with the killings of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. > **[Murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Abigail_Williams_and_Liberty_German)** > > On February 14, 2017, the bodies of Abigail Williams (June 23, 2003 – February 13, 2017) and Liberty German (December 27, 2002 – February 13, 2017) were discovered near the Monon High Bridge Trail, which is part of the Delphi Historic Trails in Delphi, Indiana, United States, after the young girls had disappeared from the same trail the previous day. The murders have received significant media coverage because a video and audio recording of an individual believed to be the girls' killer were fo... ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/2 "2022-10-31T17:57:49Z")
“Down the hill.” Brrrr. I sure hope they got the right guy. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/3 "2022-10-31T18:52:48Z")
I think the cops have DNA. Maybe they traced it using genealogy? That’s helped in several cold cases. They get a distant match to a family and they narrow it down to a few suspects. Test those people and find the killer. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/4 "2022-10-31T19:11:53Z")
Interesting that people can appear so normal and friendly. > **[r/LibbyandAbby - I worked with Richard "Rick" Allen for 8 months at CVS](https://www.reddit.com/r/LibbyandAbby/comments/yh1d5z/i_worked_with_richard_rick_allen_for_8_months_at/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)** > > 1,023 votes and 741 comments so far on Reddit ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/5 "2022-10-31T19:23:03Z")
So was he the guy in the photograph? If so I don’t understand why he wasn’t recognized a long time ago as Delphi only has a population of 3,000–and he lives there. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/6 "2022-10-31T19:29:58Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > So was he the guy in the photograph? [This article has a picture of the suspect,](https://fox59.com/indiana-news/delphi-murders-investigators-announce-arrest-details/) as well as the police sketches. I guess i can see it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/7 "2022-10-31T19:40:23Z")
I guess this lends credence to the idea that most “unsolved” crimes, especially these days with modern technology, do have a legit suspect, but the police are just unable to prove it, and don’t want publicity to scare the guy off from making a mistake. I wonder what the proportions are? You’d think that cases where the police truly have no idea what happened are in the minority… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/8 "2022-10-31T20:52:47Z")
I watch Cold Case Files on A&E. The police often have a suspect they interview multiple times over a period of years. Eventually improvements in DNA testing leads to an arrest. Sometimes police get surprised. DNA in a Cold Case will point to someone they had never talked with. The police had a strong suspect in the Delphi case. Kegan Kline was catfishing girls and getting them to send photos. He’s facing 30 child porn charges and allegedly had communicated with one of the murdered girls. Kline was never charged in the Delphi case. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/9 "2022-11-01T00:32:58Z")
Probable cause to arrest does not equate to proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Once someone is charged, the clock starts ticking. Speedy trial and all that. If the state tries a case on flimsy evidence and loses, the killer is free from future prosecution on that crime. Sometimes, you have to wait until the evidence is better and pray that your suspect doesn’t kill again. I don’t know if that’s what happened here but hats off to the investigators, regardless. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/10 "2022-11-01T04:19:42Z")
Arrest affidavits usually have basic information and are public records. The cops may be looking at other suspects and keeping all information sealed. More information should come out in the future. > [@](#): > > Officials offered few new details, and the [arrest affidavit](https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/police-and-law-enforcement) and charging documents, which are usually public in criminal cases, were sealed by the court ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/11 "2022-11-30T16:32:22Z")
Actually here is the probable cause affidavit: > **[Probable-Cause-Affidavit-Richard-Allen.pdf](https://fox59.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2022/11/Probable-Cause-Affidavit-Richard-Allen.pdf)** > > 208.26 KB It looks like the guy kept the gun–and that looks like the only strong evidence I see mentioned. This was very stupid of him. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/12 "2022-11-30T20:15:58Z")
I watch Defense attorney Scott Reisch channel. He reads the probable cause document in this video. Scott feels the overall case is weak and the gun marks on the cartridge can be challenged by a defense expert. I really want to see whoever did this successfully prosecuted. I’m waiting to see what other evidence they have against Allen. Skip to 35 min mark if you don’t want to hear him read the document. I found his comments interesting. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tMShxSYjPWQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Delphi Case: Probable Cause Released... Let's Talk About It LIVE!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMShxSYjPWQ) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/13 "2023-07-10T21:54:12Z")
> **[Delphi, Indiana, murders suspect told wife he killed two teen girls, unsealed...](https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/29/us/delphi-murders-richard-allen/index.html)** > > Richard Allen, the man charged in the 2017 killings of two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana, confessed to the crime during a phone call with his wife while in custody, a newly unsealed court document alleges. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/14 "2023-07-12T13:46:45Z")
I’m relieved Allen made the case against him much stronger. A double murder will put him in prison for life. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/15 "2024-10-14T22:07:45Z")
> **[Delphi double murder: A cellphone video kindled a mystery; now the trial is...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/delphi-double-murder-richard-allens-trial-set-open-cellphone-video-kin-rcna175143)** > > Richard Allen, a pharmacy technician, is accused of killing Abigail Williams, 13, and her best friend, Liberty German, 14, who went missing in Delphi, Indiana, in 2017. Jury selection began today. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/16 "2024-10-14T23:07:09Z")
Yes, especially that of two children. Thanks for the update. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/17 "2024-11-11T21:51:22Z")
> **[Indiana man is found guilty of murder in the 2017 killings of 2 teenage girls](https://apnews.com/article/trial-delphi-indiana-richard-allen-abby-libby-b7b234d14112c132474852577daa7780)** > > Deliberations stretched into a fourth day before jurors found Richard Allen guilty in the killings of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/18 "2024-12-21T06:05:55Z")
> **[Indiana man sentenced to the maximum of 130 years in prison for 2017 killings...](https://apnews.com/article/sentencing-delphi-indiana-richard-allen-abby-libby-61a65b189c9a8ccd0cb5358893fd501d)** > > An Indiana man convicted in the 2017 killings of two teenage girls who vanished during a winter hike has been sentenced to the maximum of 130 years in prison. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-made-in-the-delphi-murder-case/974086/19 "2024-12-27T16:24:25Z")
Kathy Swank spent 40 years working as an investigator for Child Protective Services. She came out of retirement to volunteer on the Delphi case Heroes come in all sizes and ages. 🙂 Link [https://www.wrtv.com/news/delphi/meet-kathy-swank-the-woman-who-cracked-the-delphi-murders-case](https://www.wrtv.com/news/delphi/meet-kathy-swank-the-woman-who-cracked-the-delphi-murders-case) > [@](#): > > "The reason justice was served today was due to one person, "Sheriff Tony Liggett said in a press conference after Allen was sentenced to 130 years for the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German. “The person that only knows how to give. She has given herself literally, for free, to this investigation in different ways. Since about March of 2017 Kathy Swank, while filing, scanning, organizing, found a tip that led us to be here today.” > > Kathy Shank, a retired CPS worker and volunteer clerk, organized and evaluated approximately 14,000 tips received by law enforcement regarding the murders in Delphi.